In mice, mild water restriction that elevates plasma sodium by only 5 mmol/l upregulates vWF, the initiator of blood clotting in tissues and in blood [28]; upregulates the mediators of inflammation, VCAM-1, E-selectin and MCP-1 (Fig 3); increases thrombogenesis [28]; promotes atherosclerosis (Fig 4); and thickens the walls or coronary arteries (Fig 5). Here, VCAM1 is linked to atherosclerosis.